What is Node.js?

Node.js is a server side platform built on Google Chrome's JavaScript Engine (V8 Engine). Node.js was developed by Ryan Dahl in 2009 and its latest version is v0.10.36. The definition of Node.js as supplied by its official documentation is as follows −

Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast and scalable network applications. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices.

Node.js is an open source, cross-platform runtime environment for developing server-side and networking applications. Node.js applications are written in JavaScript, and can be run within the Node.js runtime on OS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux.

Node.js also provides a rich library of various JavaScript modules which simplifies the development of web applications using Node.js to a great extent.

Node.js = Runtime Environment + JavaScript Library

Features of Node.js

Following are some of the important features that make Node.js the first choice of software architects.

• Asynchronous and Event Driven All APIs of Node.js library are asynchronous that is, non-blocking. It essentially means a Node.js based server never waits for an API to return data. The server moves to the next API after calling it and a notification mechanism of Events of Node.js helps the server to get a response from the previous API call.
• Very Fast Being built on Google Chrome's V8 JavaScript Engine, Node.js library is very fast in code execution.
• Single Threaded but Highly Scalable - Node.js uses a single threaded model with event looping. Event mechanism helps the server to respond in a non-blocking way and makes the server highly scalable as opposed to traditional servers which create limited threads to handle requests. Node.js uses a single threaded program and the same program can provide service to a much larger number of requests than traditional servers like Apache HTTP Server.
• No Buffering - Node.js applications never buffer any data. These applications simply output the data in chunks.
• License - Node.js is released under the MIT license.

Who Uses Node.js?

Following is the link on github wiki containing an exhaustive list of projects, application and companies which are using Node.js. This list includes eBay, General Electric, GoDaddy, Microsoft, PayPal, Uber, Wikipins, Yahoo!, and Yammer to name a few.

• Projects, Applications, and Companies Using Node

Concepts

The following diagram depicts some important parts of Node.js which we will discuss in detail in the subsequent chapters.

Where to Use Node.js?

Following are the areas where Node.js is proving itself as a perfect technology partner.

• I/O bound Applications
• Data Streaming Applications
• Data Intensive Real time Applications (DIRT)
• JSON APIs based Applications
• Single Page Applications

Where Not to Use Node.js?

It is not advisable to use Node.js for CPU intensive applications.

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Next Hacker to Organize Biggest Java Programming Competition In Germany

Great news for Hackers and Bug-hunters who enjoy Programming and playing around with Software.

A worldwide group of like-minded computer programmers is hosting The Next Hacker IPPC event on the 26th and 27th of February in Berlin, Germany, where participants can meet hackers and programmers from around the world while getting an opportunity to participate in one of the major hacking-related events in history.

Yes, The Next Hacker is inviting Java programmers to participate in its International Programming Player Competition (IPPC), which is going to be held on the second day of the event, i.e., 27th of February.

The first day of 2016 IPPC event will offer technical sessions on programming, an open panel discussion with renowned hackers and programmers, as well as an opportunity for the world's top programmers to meet leading high-tech companies worldwide.

The Next Hacker is an outstanding programming event with more than 5,000 attendees – no less than 3,000 contestants, including up-and-coming developers and programmers, as well as more than 2,000 guests.

All the guests invited to the event are avid hacking enthusiasts, keeping a close eye on the unique hacking challenges that the contestants will have to face.

The massive number of participants will try to showcase their craft while facing amazingly difficult challenges. This IPPC show is a pleasure to attend and offers the total reward of around $500K in cash prize.

The Challenge – Be Fast, Be Furious

The challenge will start with each programmer having to successfully find and fix holes in three random Java programs.

The fastest programmers will win a share of the cash pool.

The prize money of total $500,000 will be distributed among First 100 programmers.

• First prize – $150,000
• Second prize – $70,000
• Third prize – $50,000
• Fourth prize – $35,000
• Fifth prize – $30,000
• Sixth prize – $25,000
• Seventh prize – $20,000
• Eighth prize – $15,000
• Ninth prize – $10,000
• Tenth prize – $5,000
• Eleventh to Hundredth prize – $1,000 each

 I will  keep you  guys updated about the Next Hacker International Programming Player Competition.

The Benefit

Your participation in the Next Hacker Programming Contest will allow you to:

• Enhance your visibility
• Show off your skills
• Express your own talent
• Grow your international network and establish contacts with new colleagues and open source software companies
• And, of course, win a prize!

So, Sign Up at IPPC now and be a part of one of the Biggest Programming Event.

Roll up your sleeves, Master your skills, Conquer the digital frontier, and Be crowned for the Ultimate Next Hacker.

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